The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-08


oagad in manufacture should bs carefully
considered IA we'll rs the preservation Of
our manufacturers. 1t may be called pro
lection, or by any other name, but relief
from the hariships and dangers Of our pres
ent tariff laws should bs devised with espe-
cial precaution against imperiling the exist
encs OF our manufacturing interests. But
this existence should not mean a condition
which, without regard to the public welfare
or a national exigency, must always insure
the realization Of immense profits instead oil
moderately profitable returns. As the vol
| ume and diversity OF our national activities
increase, new recruits are added 70 those
who desire a continuation Of the advantages
which they conceive the present system OF
tariff taxation directly affords them 80
stubbornly have all efforts TO reform the
present condition been resisted by those oil
our fellow citizens thus engaged that they
can hardly complain Of the suspicion, enter
tanned TO "A c,rtain extent, that there exist
an organized combination all along the line
10 maintain their advantage.
We are in the midst Of centennial celebra-
tions, and with becoming pride we rejoice IN
| American skill and ing nuity, in American
/ energy and enterprise and in the wonderful
natural advantages and resources developed
10y O ceniury's national growth. Yet whel
an attempt Is made to justify a scheme
| which permits a tax 20 be laid uIoa every
| consumer in the land for the benefit Of oui
manufacturers quite beyond reasonable
demand for governmental regard, II suits the
| purposes Of advocacy to call our manufac
lures infant industries, still needing the high
est and greatest degree Of favor aud foster
| ing care that can b. wrung from fedora
| legislation.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
At is also said that the increase IN the price
/ u domestic manufaci ures resulting from ih
present tariff Is necessary in order that
higher wages may be paid to onr working
men EN-. Logged in manufactures. than arr
paih for what l. called the iaHlef labor o.
! Europe. All will acknowledge the force OF
Az argument which involves the welfare an
| liberal compensation OF our labOring people
| Our labor is houorabls in the eyes Of every
| American citizen; and as II lies at the iOun
iation of our development and prOere S, II j.
entitled. without aifectation or hypocrisy L.
| he utmost regard. The STANDARD Of our Ia
borcr, life should not b. measured by that of
my other country less favored, and they ar
ntitlrd to thiir full shar, Of all our aiyan-
tages.
BY the last census it is made to appear That
| f the Il ,392,O9l Of our population engaged
/ n all kinds Of industries 1910, 1913 are en-
poycd in agriculture, 4.054. 23s in profes-
| ,iolai ami personal service l3,r1, Of whom
are domestic servants and laborer), while
t.si0..,6 are employed in trnde ami trans
rortdiion. and @,>31, III are cla.sel as en-
| ployei ~ manui lcturing aud mining.
For Present plrp0s ., however. the las
4umher given sh,ud Le considerably re-
iuced Without attempting 10 enumcrat'
ILL, i will he conceded that there should To
| deducted from those which il includes 80, l43
arp uters aud ioiners 2sj. 4Ol milliners
lressmaker, aud soamstre7ses, l12, 13j bllck
.nil s. l.i. 1,j tailOrs and tai.Ores es, lO3 A.
nasous. al. .li butchers, II 800 bakers, - O,i
llasierers an 4. 81 engaged in manuiGctur
NJ agricultural implements, amounting in
be- aggregate 20 lsl4 OBJ leaving 2623, Os9
person, mployed ia such manufacturing in-
'us'rl les are claimed TO be benefited by
Ugh .r,n
To these The appeal is made 10 save THEN
Employment and maintain their wages Toy
'e.isting Il change There should he no dis
POSITION 10 answer such suggestions by The
,lcgatiOu that they are in minority among
hose Wha labor, aud therefore should forego
~ adyautag- il the inter, 81 Of low prices loi
rhe ma iority; their comp usation, as IL may
ie affected Ly the operatiou Of tariff laws,
.houd at all time, be scrupilously kept in
view. ana yet VIII slight reflection they will
not overlook the fact that they are con
'umors with the rest; that they too, have
heir own wants aud those Of their famili.,
10 supply from ia IT, earnings aud that the
price Of the necessarirs Of lifs as well as the
| AMOUNT Of their wages VII regulate The
measure OF their welfare aud comfort.
But the reduction Of taxation d,mandcd
| should be So measured as not 10 necessitate
Of Justify either the loss of employment by
| the working man nor the lessoning of his
wage, and the profits still =, maiuing ia the
manufacturer after a necessary readju,t
ment should furnish no excuse for the sacri
| ice Of ihs interests II Ia s employees eitler Boo
| heir opportunity 10 work or in the diminu
ion OF their compensation Nor can th.
wori or in manufactures fail 10 un lerstani
| that while high tarin is claimed to D..
necessary 10 allow the payment cf remuu-
srative wages il certainly results in u very
large increase in the price Of nearly all
sorts Of manufactures, which, in aim 81
countless forms, Ia needs for the use OF
himself and his family lie receives at the
desk Of his employer his wages, ami PER.
haps before he reaches his hone is Obliged,
| in purchase for fam ly use of an article
which embraces his own labor, 10 return
in the payment Of the increase Of price
which the tariff permits, the hard earued
compensation Of many days Of toll
Al APPEAL 10 THE FARMERS
| The farmer and the agricu.turist, who
manufacture nothing, but who pay the in
| creased price which The tariff imposes upon
every agricultural implement, upon all he
wears and upon all he uses and owns, except
the increase Of bis fiocks and herds and such
things as bis husbandry produces from the
| soil is invited 10 aid IN maintaining the
present situation, and he Is told that high
duty ON imported wool IS necessary for the
| benefit Of those who have sheep To shear, ia
order that the price of their wool may be in
| creased They of course are not reminded
| that the farmer who has no sheep is by this
scheme obliged, in bis purchases Of clothing
and wooden goods, to pay tribute to his Eel